“This instrument, as you can easily imagine at first glance, carries with it a very particular story. It was conceived as a heartfelt tribute to an encounter between people who were able to profoundly influence each other’s lives. A Tango master who has passed away, and a friend who wished to honor his memory through the creation of this instrument. The references to Tango culture are evident, and there is little need for me to dwell on describing them. Particularly interesting was the approach to the project proposed by my client, with technical specifications aimed at creating an instrument with distinctive proportions. Starting with the neck dimensions, featuring a 47 mm nut width, and ending with the thickness of the body, which is 1 cm thicker than standard Gibson measurements, allowing for a richer response in terms of semi-acoustic nuances. A deeply passionate instrument, devoted to tango and to powerful emotions.”… Let’s Play

All the models presented on these pages are entirely handcrafted by luthier Emanuele D’Alò, founder of Shank Instruments Milano.
Each instrument is lifetime guaranteed and comes with a certificate of authenticity.

An audio/video demo of the instrument will be published on this page shortly.

• Body: Lombardy poplar. Handcarved semihollow
• Neck: maple
• Fretboard: ebony, 22 frets
• Radius: 12″
• Diapason: 24,75″ (Gibson)
• Nut: 47 mm 
• Pickups: custom handwound
• Wiring: series, parallel, split.
• Tuners: Gotoh
• Finish: acrylic glossy
• Weight: 3,5 kg

L'articolo GIO’ proviene da Shank Instruments Milano: Chitarre, Bassi, Batterie.

• Body: Lombardy poplar – Semi hollow. 
• Neck: flamed maple  
• Fretboard: ebony, 22 frets medium jumbo
• Radius: 12″
• Diapason: 25,5″ 
• Nut: 43 mm 
• Pickup: Duesemberg hum / Custom single coils
• Bridge: Fishman piezo
• Tuners: Kluson
• Finish: acrylic glossy
• Weight: 3,4 kg

L'articolo NIHIL proviene da Shank Instruments Milano: Chitarre, Bassi, Batterie.

• Body: mahogany, ebony. Neckthru 
• Neck: mahogany/ebony
• Fretboard: ebony 24 frets medium jumbo
• Radius: 12″
• Diapason: 25 1/2″ 
• Nut: 1,71″
• Pickup: custom wound alnico 5
• Bridge: Vega Trem VT1
• Tuners: Sperzel locking
• Finish: acrylic glossy
• Weight: 8,1 lbs

L'articolo ELEGUA proviene da Shank Instruments Milano: Chitarre, Bassi, Batterie.

“Taking a train… Jochen, the guitar owner, could not bear the idea of his instrument traveling in some random train container under the summer sun. Even I, at the very moment I was painting it and before I was even asked if it could be picked up directly at my workshop, was ready to propose my own trip for delivery. We were both already on a train before the guitar was even ready. Milan and Dusseldorf are close and the trains travel fast. Probably… As fast as the thoughts and desires to come up with the best excuses to travel…””

– – –

A variant of the “Tangier” model, of identical shape and piezo equipment but with a different interpretation of the aesthetic factor focused, in this case, no longer on alternating wood figures, but rather on the charm of natural spruce soundboard. Interesting, in my opinion, was the choice of yew, a customer request, again by hand carving from solid wood.

The challenge was to adequately size the body, especially in terms of thickness, to make the widest possible spectrum and depth of tone of the instrument given the size and overall volume definitely smaller than a traditional acoustic guitar. It must be said that the instrument was designed essentially for use in an amplified context via piezo and in this perspective has been developed from the beginning.

For the rest, the project refers to the traditional manufacturing technique of an archtop instrument. Soundboard hand carved by hand from solid figured spruce wood in this case, yew wood back and sides.

The neck size was meant to provide the musician with a support that would allow him to range rather easily between the different genres that can be expressed through an acoustic instrument, without sacrificing or affecting the overall feeling of a traditional neck with “classical” measures, although with different measures in terms of width at nut.

The goal, which I believe has been achieved, is to propose an instrument with a strong classical setting on a constructive and conceptual basis typical of archtop guitars with a look, that I hope will be appreciated, at innovative design.

All archtop models presented on these pages are entirely handmade by luthier Emanuele D’Alò, owner of the Shank Instruments brand. The instruments are built according to the dictates of the Robert Benedetto method, and both soundboards and backs are hand-cut from solid boards.

Project specs

• Soundboard: spruce quarter sawn, handcarved
• Back: yew, handcarved
• Sides: yew
• Size: 13″
• Height: 2,7″
• Neck: mahogany, C shape. Thickness 1st fret 22mm
• Fretboard: ebony, 24 medium jumbo frets
• Radius: 16″
• Bracing: parallel
• Diapason: 25,5″
• Nut: 1,9″ – Bone
• Pickup: piezo – MiSi Acoustic Trio
• Ponte: ebano
• Finish: polyhuretane
• Weight: 5,5 lbs

L'articolo HABIBI proviene da Shank Instruments Milano: Chitarre, Bassi, Batterie.

“It is stimulating to imagine being able to capture the elegant irreverence of a simple and everyday gesture, such as the one a person can make while eating a green salad. The same insolent lightness that one wants to try to achieve through the sharpness of a proposal, at the extreme borders of normality, which can however represent all the virtuous intentions of that insolence. Lightness is often irreverent, actually, almost always. Because it forces and it can influence to do anything, just as elegance probably does. Even and above all it can bring us to carry out gestures that are more incomprehensible the closer and similar to us they are.”… Let’s Play

P.S. – “I would like to thank my friend Stéphane, owner of the guitar, which in addition to the challenge of building his Mint Cream (this is the real name), forced me to the harder effort to pull these lines down. Elegant and irriverent, my clients….”

All the archtop models presented on these pages are completely handmade by luthier Emanuele D’Alò, owner of the Shank Instruments Milano brand. The instruments are built according to the Benedetto method and both the soundboards and the backs are handmade from solid boards.

• Soundboard: quarter sawn black poplar, handcarved
• Back: quarter sawn black poplar, handcarved
• Sides: curly maple
• Size: 35 cm (17″)
• Height sides: 60 mm (2,3″)
• Neck: flamed maple, C shape. Height 1st fret  0,8″ (22mm)
• Fretboard: Amara ebony, 20 frets medium jumbo
• Radius: 16″
• Bracing: parallel, spruce
• Diapason: 25 1/2″ 
• Nut: 48,5 mm – Bone
• Pickup: piezo MiSi – Acoustic Trio Air
• Bridge: Amara ebony
• Finish: poliurethane
• Weight: 7.0 lbs (3,2 kg)

L'articolo BURST GREEN proviene da Shank Instruments Milano: Chitarre, Bassi, Batterie.

“Like the best Mercedes, perhaps a bit predictable in their classical style, even good guitars can be appreciated for the same reasons. Linearity turned into aesthetic standard, imagination as rigour, free and seductive austerity. Flamboyant and hidden at the same time. Like old-style luxury cars, outdated in technique, obsolete like the clothes that the men of those times used to wear. And for these reasons, those of the luxury that other times could hold, to be preserved and flaunted. Because if I had a ’69 Mercedes 280 SE Automatic parked in the back of my house, I certainly wouldn’t hide it. Let’s Play.“

Demo at bottom of the page

A variant of the “Tangier” model, of identical shape and piezo equipment but with a different interpretation of the aesthetic factor focused, in this case, no longer on alternating wood figures, but rather on the charm of spruce painted in an gloss black hue. Interesting, in my opinion, was the choice of the 3 woods whose bottom was made, again by hand carving from solid wood, of the best piece of olive ash I had available. Binding painted in antique gold color.

The challenge was to adequately size the body, especially in terms of thickness, to make the widest possible spectrum and depth of tone of the instrument given the size and overall volume definitely smaller than a traditional acoustic guitar. It must be said that the instrument was designed essentially for use in an amplified context via piezo and in this perspective has been developed from the beginning.

For the rest, the project refers to the traditional manufacturing technique of an archtop instrument. Soundboard hand carved by hand from solid figured spruce wood in this case, curly maple and ash back.

The neck size was meant to provide the musician with a support that would allow him to range rather easily between the different genres that can be expressed through an acoustic instrument, without sacrificing or affecting the overall feeling of a traditional neck with “classical” measures, although with different measures in terms of width at nut.

The goal, which I believe has been achieved, is to propose an instrument with a strong classical setting on a constructive and conceptual basis typical of archtop guitars with a look, that I hope will be appreciated, at innovative design.

All archtop models presented on these pages are completely handmade by luthier Emanuele D’Alò, owner of the Shank Instruments brand. The instruments are built according to the dictates of the Robert Benedetto method, and both soundboards and backs are hand-cut from solid boards.

• Top: solid quarter sawn spruce, handcarved
• Back: ash, handcarved
• Sides: curly maple
• Size: 14″
• Side height: 2,7″
• Neck: red cedar (cedrela), D shape. Thickness at 1st fret: 0,88″
• Fretboard: ebony, 24 frets medium jumbo
• Radius: 16″
• Bracing: parallel
• Diapason: 25,5″
• Nut: 1,9″ – Bone
• Pickup: piezo – MiSi Acoustic Trio
• Bridge: ebony
• Finish: polyurethane
• Weight: 5,5 lbs

L'articolo 280 SL proviene da Shank Instruments Milano: Chitarre, Bassi, Batterie.

“Dreamin’ Tangier… The idea of making an instrument with nylon strings, built with an archtop-like structure, had seduced me for some time. I made the final decision when, after some drawings in search of a new design, I adopted this particular shape as the final one, ready for the practical creation of a new guitar.

The challenge was to adequately size the body, especially in terms of thickness, to make the widest possible spectrum and depth of tone of the instrument given the size and overall volume definitely smaller than a classic guitar with traditional nylon strings. It must be said that the instrument was designed essentially for use in an amplified context via piezo and in this perspective has been developed from the beginning.

For the rest, the project refers to the traditional manufacturing technique of an archtop instrument. Soundboard hand carved by hand from solid figured poplar wood in this case, curly maple and poplar back.

The neck size was meant to provide the musician with a support that would allow him to range rather easily between the different genres that can be expressed through an instrument with nylon strings, without sacrificing or affecting the overall feeling of a traditional neck with “classical” measures, although with different measures in terms of width at nut.

The goal, which I believe has been achieved, is to propose an instrument with a strong classical setting on a constructive and conceptual basis typical of archtop guitars with a look, that I hope will be appreciated, at innovative design.”… Let’s Play

All the archtop models presented on these pages are completely handmade by luthier Emanuele D’Alò, owner of the brand Shank Instruments. The instruments are built according to the principles of the Robert Benedetto method and both the soundboards and the backs are handmade from solid wood boards.

• Top: solid figured poplar, handcarved
• Back: solid figured poplar, handcarved
• Sides: curly maple
• Size: 14″
• Side height: 2,7″
• Neck: mahogany, D shape. Thickness at 1st fret: 0,88″
• Fretboard: ebony, 24 frets medium jumbo
• Radius: 16″
• Bracing: parallel
• Diapason: 25,5″
• Nut: 1,9″ – Bone
• Pickup: piezo – MiSi Acoustic Trio
• Bridge: ebony
• Finish: polyurethane
• Weight: 5,5 lbs

L'articolo TANGIER proviene da Shank Instruments Milano: Chitarre, Bassi, Batterie.

“Figured poplar is a kind of wood I love to work with. It’s irreverent and brash for the amount of reading options it gives you as soon as you get a board from it. The spectacular fibre textures allow for a multitude of finishes and interpretations. I also love it for the wonderful sound response and the harmonic texture it always manages to produce. Plus, why not exploit its cheeky irreverence to its fullest to make a unique classic jazz instrument? Why not?”… Let’s Play

All the archtop models presented on these pages are completely handmade by luthier Emanuele D’Alò, owner of the brand Shank Instruments. The instruments are built according to the principles of the Robert Benedetto method and both the soundboards and the backs are handmade from solid wood boards.

• Soundboard: solid figured poplar handcarved
• Back: solid figured poplar handcarved
• Sides: cu rlymaple. Binding maple
• Size: 17″
• Height: 2,7″
• Neck: flamed maple, D shape. Thickness at 1st fret: 0,88″
• Fretboard: ebony, 22 frets medium jumbo
• Radius: 12″
• Braces: parallel
• Diapason: 25″
• Nut: 1,78″- Bone
• Pickup: custom wound floating
• Bridge: ebony
• Finitura: poliurethane gloss
• Weight: 7.2 lbs

L'articolo LOLLIPOP proviene da Shank Instruments Milano: Chitarre, Bassi, Batterie.

“A tool made almost for fun, in my spare time. An idea came to my mind one morning while I was probably brushing my teeth and remained in the depths of my imagination for who knows how long. Why not making a carved metal top on a wooden body, mahogany in this case, using the colour contrast of the materials, aluminium and brass? The hypothesis seemed to be well founded and I started to work recovering some aluminium and brass plates that I had used for other projects. A good quantity of epoxy glue to create a sort of “sandwich” in layers and then proceed to carve the top. A few stainless steel safety screws and go. It’s funny to remember how I came up with the idea for the inlay… I found myself with an endless number of metal chips of various sizes glittering on the workbench. With a burin I carved some grooves on the rosewood fingerboard, of random threadlike shapes, and filled them with the fibres. The effect reminded me of a seabed, made of seaweeds and air bubbles. The stylised rod completes the work. The guitar has mahogany kaia body and neck, 24.75″ scale with gold Jescar frets. The owner, and those who have tried it, ensures that the weight does not significantly exceed that of a vintage Les Paul”… Let’s Play

L'articolo ALUBRA proviene da Shank Instruments Milano: Chitarre, Bassi, Batterie.

I’ve had this project in my mind for a long time, probably since my father, a passionate collector of contemporary artworks, bought a sculpture by Fernandez Arman and hung it in the living room many years ago. It was a violin, dissected vertically into thin strips and then recomposed, fan-shaped, on a base of liquid concrete. I probably suffered, much more than I imagined, the fascination of that work, of that conceptual expression. Seduced to the point of having created, in a completely experimental and adventurous way, this peculiar instrument, maybe unlikely in its conception, but absolutely tangible now that I have brought the crucial step from idea to instrument to a conclusion. I used flamed maple for the soundboard, back and sides, khaya mahogany for the neck and ebony for the 24″ 3/4 scale fingerboard. The satellite chambers, also in maple, communicate with the central body, to which they are fixed with spacers, through circular openings that allow the free passage of air inside the complex of the “body”, making the timbre and sound output multiple, so to speak. An excellent MiSi piezo does the rest. Let’s Play

Here a press release from Fingerpicking.net: https://www.fingerpicking.net/shank-instruments-bloom/

L'articolo BLOOM proviene da Shank Instruments Milano: Chitarre, Bassi, Batterie.